Wednesday, April 13, 2005

'We have kids here who have such bad toothaches that they can't do their homework,' Kast said. 'They might even act out and be violent. Their families have so much going on that going to the dentist just isn't a priority, but it needs to be a priority for every child.'

"At Sentara hospitals alone, some 1,500 uninsured patients a year land in the emergency room with severe tooth or gum disease. Tens of thousands of adults in the region also have lost six or more teeth due to dental disease - often the result of years of neglect that can start in the toddler years."